NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

I'm a produce broker and today I booked a Hotel for a Customer at $300 a night in Key Largo Fl set for two weeks from now with Hotels.com

.. a few minutes later my customer asked if he could stay in Key West instead (90miles south of Key Largo) and of course I told him it wouldnt be a problem.

Well I called Hotels.com (five minutes later grant you) to inform them that I would like to cancel the original room in Key Largo and re-book another (more expensive room, grant you) in Key West.

They told me that I would have to pay a penalty fee of $300 (the cost of one night at the original Hotel), and then I could cancel and re-book in Key West.

Long story short ...After a long battle and a lecture on how good brokers do business from me, the "Supervisor" gave in and cancelled the original room, on one condition....that I rebook with them at a more expensive hotel in Key West. (which is exactly what I wanted to do in the first place!

Lesson: Book hotels direct or at the very least never deal with these assholes at Hotels.com!

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

I'm a produce broker and today I booked a Hotel for a Customer at $300 a night in Key Largo Fl set for two weeks from now with Hotels.com

.. a few minutes later my customer asked if he could stay in Key West instead (90miles south of Key Largo) and of course I told him it wouldnt be a problem.

Well I called Hotels.com (five minutes later grant you) to inform them that I would like to cancel the original room in Key Largo and re-book another (more expensive room, grant you) in Key West.

They told me that I would have to pay a penalty fee of $300 (the cost of one night at the original Hotel), and then I could cancel and re-book in Key West.

Long story short ...After a long battle and a lecture on how good brokers do business from me, the "Supervisor" gave in and cancelled the original room, on one condition....that I rebook with them at a more expensive hotel in Key West. (which is exactly what I wanted to do in the first place!

Lesson: Book hotels direct or at the very least never deal with these assholes at Hotels.com!

What the fuck is a produce broker? Do you slang apples and cucumbers?

Originally Posted by sames44

Marriage is a beautiful thing - everyone should try it at least twice in their lifetime.

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

I've never had a problem with hotels.com, in fact I booked the hotel I stayed infor Coachella there. Pretty good deal for what a nice room it was. Isn't it that person's fault for suddenly changing their mind?

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

Lets put it this way, it would have been like me calling a truck to haul a load of Broccoli to Newark, New Jersey (cost=$5000) and then turning around and telling him (5minutes later) to go to Union City, New Jersey instead and him charging an extra $2500 freight to make the call and switch locations.

or..

Telling a shipper that my customer needs 2 Pallets of Artichokes 24 ct. and then calling him 5 minutes later to adjust it to a 18 ct artichoke instead, and then having him tell me that I can have the 18ct choke, but I will have to pay for 1 pallet of 24's without getting them...and then I can get the two pallets of 18ct choke.

A broker's job (which is what Hotel's.com is) is to accomadate the customer. It would be one thing if I called the next day after the market had changed for (rooms or chokes or truck rates). But i called 5 fucking minutes later.

And yes, I do slang fruits and veg. Somebody has got to do it. You think produce magically appears in restaurants and grocery stores?

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

Originally Posted by Lt. Dangel

Lets put it this way, it would have been like me calling a truck to haul a load of Broccoli to Newark, New Jersey (cost=$5000) and then turning around and telling him (5minutes later) to go to Union City, New Jersey instead and him charging an extra $2500 freight to make the call and switch locations.

or..

Telling a shipper that my customer needs 2 Pallets of Artichokes 24 ct. and then calling him 5 minutes later to adjust it to a 18 ct artichoke instead, and then having him tell me that I can have the 18ct choke, but I will have to pay for 1 pallet of 24's without getting them...and then I can get the two pallets of 18ct choke.

A broker's job (which is what Hotel's.com is) is to accomadate the customer. It would be one thing if I called the next day after the market had changed for (rooms or chokes or truck rates). But i called 5 fucking minutes later.

And yes, I do slang fruits and veg. Somebody has got to do it. You think produce magically appears in restaurants and grocery stores?

that's a cool job.

do they eat a lot of broccoli in Newark?
do you import tomatoes from places like Chile?
what do you think of this 'eat local' concept?

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

do you import tomatoes from places like Chile?
what do you think of this 'eat local' concept?

No, but many of the shippers I buy from import produce from Chile during the Winter. We are not a cooler, so we don't store anything. We just have lots of relationships with growers throughout California (Coachella is a produce hot spot if you will during the fall/winter btw), and Arizona. We know where to locate the product and have trust worthy connections that will give us fair prices on good product. It makes it convenient for our customers who need a wide variety of commodities, at a good price. We do a lot of Oranges, Lemons, Cantaloupes, Dews, Tree Fruit, Berries and a wide variety of Vegetables.

Eat local is a great idea...it just depends on the supply and demand. Obviously if you can find food locally at your farmers market or co-op then youre doing your health and your community a service. But its not always easy to find a large supply of any given commodity locally. But overall if you CAN buy locally, you should. Its just not always that easy.

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

Could give you an ETA from Farm to Grocery store or Wholesaler (who usually re-sells to retailers (e.g. restaurants), but it would obviously be harder to give you an ETA on Farm to table.

Usually once an order is placed by say a grocery store chain a load date is also given which is the day the truck (either booked by myself or the retailer/wholesaler) will check-in to pick up the product (neatly packaged in cartons on pallets). The broker usually makes calls to find the best price for the product and also a convenient location(s) for the truck to make streamline pick/ups along major freeways. ETA depends on the truck and whether or not its on time, and on whether or not the shipper is able to supply (cut the crop in premium condition to the amount he has estimated and granted to the buyers (brokers, direct buyers etc.). Banking that everything is ready and the truck is on time and depending on where in the U.S. its going ( i only work domestic) it can run anywhere from 2-3 days to the east coast (with a "team"= two drivers basically driving non-stop=$$ to 5 to 7 days. Then the grocery store/restaurant has to decide when to make it available to the customer. That depends on supply and demand again from the store customers.

Buying and selling produce is highly organized. It can be stressful at times, if product isnt ready or trucks break-down. Brokers take a lot of heat if things dont go right because its our job to make sure everything goes as planned. When it doesnt, people dont get salads, and the restaurant loses customers, the wholesaler gets his ass kicked and we in turn get ours handed to us as well.

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

can you tell me why store-bought tomatoes taste like crap any more? I mean unless you shell out $$ for some nice heirloom tomatoes, you're gettign stuff that tastes like fucking cardboard.

This is usually because the tomatoes you are buying are not ripened on the vine. The tomatoes you are eating are actually green tomatoes that have been stuffed in a room and gased ripe. Totally un-natural....bummer, I know.

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

What is the best place to get really good produce other than the farm or farmers market.....i.e. grocer?

Here lies another great yet complicated question.

A lot depends on the buyer, or broker for a store and obviously stores like Whole Foods and other smaller quality chain grocers who also provide Organic options are going to be the best..usually simply becuase they care about quality and variety and also have a clientele thats willing to pay the difference in price.

As far a large chains go, its kind of hit and miss depending on the season, and what growers they are buying from. The better the quality the more expensive produce is going to be. Certain labels like Ocean Mist and Sunkist usually have consistently decent products but you pay for it and the difference in price in my opinion isnt always worth it. Like Tom commented, buying locally is usually going to be the freshest and most naturally grown choice, which in turn tastes and feels the best.

Re: NEVER-EVER USE HOTELS.COM

COSTCO

I dont know, funny, I never shop there, and dont know the buying team.

Well my day here is done. Now I have to go propose an idea for a radio segment at a local radio station here thats trying to provide an alternative to the highly corporate mundane run of the mill clear channel music stations here in the Valley. Maybe you guys can help me with ideas tomorrow. I will definitely be posting a thread once I learn more about this station and their plans tonite.